Supplier In Bayshore Heroin, Cocaine Ring Sentenced To Prison

A man who was alleged to be the main supplier in a large-scale Bayshore heroin and cocaine ring was sentenced to prison this week, after admitting to his crimes.

Gregory Gillens, 47, of Hillside, was sentenced Tuesday to 120 months in prison for his role as the supplier of large quantities of heroin and cocaine in Monmouth and Middlesex counties, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Gillens was arrested in this November 2018 takedown of the drug ring, where 15 people — many of them locals — were arrested.

To date, 12 of those ring members have pleaded guilty, including ring leader Guy Jackson.

The feds say the ring's main suppliers were based in Pennsylvania, and they sold the product to two men in Perth Amboy. From there, the narcotics were distributed to be sold in towns such as Cliffwood, Keansburg, Old Bridge, Belford and Union Beach.

Some of the heroin they sold contained fentanyl, a dangerous synthetic opioid that can cause immediate and fatal overdoses.

Gillens previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin. Gillens also admitted to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine.

Police who executed search warrants on Gillens' home in Hillside said they found more than $96,000 in cash and more than 600 grams of cocaine there.

Matawan, Aberdeen, Keansburg, Hazlet and Holmdel police officers all helped work on the case. Police used wiretaps to intercept phone calls and text messages, and used confidential sources as well as made controlled purchases of heroin and cocaine.

All 15 arrested in the ring were:

• Guy Jackson, 46, of Effort, Pennsylvania
• Gregory Gillens, 46, of Hillside, New Jersey (alleged main supplier)
• Lashawn Mealing, 47, of Effort, Pennsylvania
• Richard Gethers, 43, of Perth Amboy, New Jersey
• Deberal Rogers, 46, of Perth Amboy, New Jersey
• Krystal Cordoba, 33, of Elizabeth, New Jersey
• Daniel Alfano, 44, of Keansburg, New Jersey
• Daniel McHugh, 48, of Sayreville, New Jersey
• Tyler Scarangello, 33, of Belford, New Jersey
• David Nagy, 41, of Old Bridge, New Jersey
• Christy Dube, 33, of Cliffwood, New Jersey
• George Holiday, Sr., 47, of Union Beach, New Jersey
• Daryl Jackson, 45, of Old Bridge, New Jersey
• Shavar Williams, 43, of Cliffwood, New Jersey
• Brian Hall, 47, of Howell, New Jersey

The FBI said police departments in Union Beach, Matawan, Aberdeen, Holmdel, Hazlet, Keansburg and Highlands were instrumental in the investigation and the arrests, and thanked them for their work.

Initial Patch report: Feds Say They've Dismantled Major Bayshore Heroin Ring (Nov. 28, 2018)